Bob Dylan: Don't Look Back

I caught up with my NetFlix this weekend and finally got around to watching D A Pennybaker's Bob Dylan movie/documentary "Don't Look Back"

The film follows Dylan on his 1965 tour of England. If you've seen Scorsese's "No Direction Home", then you'll recognize a lot of the footage.

At times it feels a bit scripted with Dylan playing to the camera, but you're gifted throughout with some amazing moments of behind the scenes insight and clarity.

There is some wonderful backstage footage of Dylan tormenting the inquisitive press, questioning their questions while manipulating their words and turning the interview around. Then he'll go on stage and blow everyone away with his lyrical and accoustic brilliance.

Looking at the timing of the film, it comes just a few months before "Like a Rolling Stone" hits and he goes electric at Newport, changing everything. He's riding the wave of his adopted songs: Blowin' in the Wind, The Times They Are A Changin', Mr Tamborine Man.

Aloof at times, I think Dylan knew exactly what he was doing, and played off the hype while trying to maintain his artist independence and do whatever he wants. Clearly wanting to buck statements which pigeon-hole him, Dylan continues to defy classification.

Now I'm ready for "I'm Not There"

Heisenberg uncertainty principle: Observing a phenomenon changes the phenomenon)